2010-2011 LMAIS Technology Coordinators Spring Meeting

Tuesday, April 12, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM


The Catherine Cook School
226 West Schiller Street (Map)
Chicago, IL 60610

Bill Mierisch
Director of Technology
billm@ccookschool.org
312-266-3381 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 312-266-3381 end_of_the_skype_highlightingext. 173


Please send RSVP by Friday, April 8, so we can place an accurate food order.

Hotel Accommodations

  • While there are abundant hotels near the school, most visitors stay at the Hotel Indigo, which is walking distance to Catherine Cook.

Arrival

  • Street parking is difficult, and many of the streets around the school are permit-only. There is a pay lot on the SW corner of N North Park and Schiller (at last check, $16 for the whole day). By public transit, we are walking distance from the Sedgwick stop (Brown and Purple lines) and Division stop (Red line) on the "L."
  • Please sign in at our main office, and they will direct you to our meeting location.

Schedule

  • 9:00 - 10:00 Informal Gathering & Continental Breakfast (coffee, juices, water, fresh fruit, muffins and pastries)
  • 10:00 - 11:45 Morning session
  • 11:45 - 12:15 Lunch
  • 12:15 - 2:00 Afternoon session
  • 2:00 - Building Tour (Optional)

Agenda (Please add your topics below.)

  • Personal devices on our networks (Linda Danforth). Add me to this - we are looking at allowing students to bring their own laptops. Would love insight into logistics - specific AUP for personal laptops, policies, classroom Asset management(Dana Pero)
    • Possible model - bring your own, at your own risk, use your own software.
    • Parker posts directions on accessing resources, printers, etc.
    • Wireless and bandwidth issues require attention.
    • How to folks deal with charging? What about in the classroom?
    • Generally no special AUPs.
      • Some allow students to set AUP
      • Simpler vs. more complex?
      • Can be done at the network login level.
      • What age is it required? (Varies from 1st to 3rd, even older in some cases).
    • Side topic - is email ettiquette important?
  • Using Twitter, Facebook for marketing and communication (Dana Pero)
    • Engaging parents about events.
    • Message overkill, or serving needs? Since they can opt in or out, it is their choice.
    • How much do they read?
    • Some are using Google sites for class newsletters.
    • What about emergency communications?
    • Policies about engaging students (generally prohibited).
    • Some prohibit teacher-parent "friending," some discourage it.
    • What about blogs/commenting?
    • Vinnie - "protect your professional reputation" guides their social media policy.
    • How do you deal with parents who are also staff members? Same policy. Do you allow them to friend their own children or not? Yes.
  • The use of iPads (or equivalent) in school (Peter Laimins)
    • iear.org
    • Flexibility vs. usability
    • How do you manage it
    • Useful Apps -- ALL, I ADDED AN IPAD APPS PAGE OFF THE HOME PAGE. PLEASE ADD YOUR APPS THERE. THX!
      • Good Reader
        • Acrobat - like PDF viewer and editor (annotate, draw, notes, etc)
        • Powerful file management features (WebDav shares, Dropbox support, Google Docs, Email and more)
      • Evernote
      • Noterize (Onenote like app)
      • eClicker (Polling/Quizzing App)
      • iMovie (iPad2 Only)
      • Garageband (Podcasting, music compostion)
      • Prezi
      • iWork (Pages, Numbers, Keynote)
    • App Store empowering teachers to innovate
    • Browsing protection/tracking.
    • Refresh cycle could possibly be more aggressive.
    • Ease of use seems to be a big selling point. (In particular for younger students). But why the iPad versus other devices?
    • What can they be used for in the classroom - in particular for high school students?
    • Zagg - cover/keyboard option coming.
  • Forms/Workflow Automation Solutions: Recommendations for "back office" automation of forms processing for both internal and external use? Google Spreadsheet Forms? SharePoint workflows? FileMaker databases? (Keith Gillette)
    • Some of the web integration tools are useful, depending on who folks are using.
    • Help desk systems to assist.
    • Keith using some SharePoint for workflows.
    • Some folks using open source options (Drupal sites) for intranets.
  • Asset Labeling: Recommendations on equipment labeling solutions suited for 1:1 student computing programs? Durable labels identifying student and supporting asset ID barcodes?
  • EPub eBook format creation software for Windows machines? (my teachers are telling me we MUST get a Mac to do this, I'm skeptical) - (Dave Aykroid)
    • Issues of embedding other elements (vs. PDF) a question.
    • Calibri as an option? Versions for Mac, Windows, Linux.
      http://calibre-ebook.com/
  • What version of Office are you running? Any upgrade plans? Anyone running open source only? (Dana Pero)
    • Majority at least at 2007 on PC and 2008 on Mac, but not universal. Several 2010/2011 users as well.
  • What are people doing with gaming as an educational tool? (Justin Sheehan)
  • Meetings for 2011-2012 school year?
    • Brickton Montessori might be able to host in fall
    • Science & Arts Academy can host in fall (backup if Brickton can't)
    • North Shore will host in spring (in the new facility)

Attendees

  • Chris Butera (Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School)
  • Peter Evans (Francis W. Parker School)
  • Cathy Donnelly (Francis W. Parker School)
  • Dana Pero (Science & Arts Academy)
  • Peter Brown (Latin School of Chicago)
  • Peter Laimins (Da Vinci Academy)
  • Vinnie Vrotny (North Shore Country Day School)
  • Phil Igyarto (Quest Academy)
  • Bob Giosh (Latin School of Chicago)
  • Beth Shutters (Roycemore School)
  • Bill Mierisch (Catherine Cook School)
  • Steven Bosco (The Avery Coonley School)
  • Keith Gillette (Lake Forest Country Day School) [departing after lunch]
  • Mike Panagos (Lake Forest Country Day School)
  • Andrew Beights (Catherine Cook School)
  • Erika Bolte (Brickton Montessori School)
  • Carol Forgione (Woodlands Academy)
  • Marineta Kropke (Woodlands Academy)
  • Dave Aykroid (Lake Forest Academy)

Regrets

  • Eric Wozniak (St. John's Northwestern Military Academy)
  • Klay Shannon (The Prairie School)
  • Linda Danforth (Brookfield Academy) Sorry for last minute change in plans
  • Curt Lieneck (Univ. of Chicago Laboratory Schools) -- sorry to cancel at last minute. Something came up at Lab.
  • Faith Caron (Ancona School) I am not going to be able to attend